Neck-yoke.



M. T. BETTS.

NECK YOKE.

APPLICATION FILED .TULYZ, 1912. Y

Patented Dec. 10, 1912;"

Inventor Attorneys uniTnn STATES PATENT orricn.

MOREI-IOUSETHEODOBE BETTS, OF BALLSTON SPA, NEW YORK.

NECK-YOKE.

Application filed July 2, 1912. Serial No. 707,383.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MOREHOUSE T. Bnr'rs, acitizen of the United States, residing at Ballston Spa, in the county ofSaratoga and State of New York, have invented 'a new anduseful'Neck-Yoke, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to neck yokes for wagon or vehicletongues, and aims to generally improve the construction of neck yokes.

In the general improvement in the neck yoke, the present inventioncontemplates'the provision of a simple, durable, substantial andinexpensive structure of the character indicated, which shall beconvenient, serviceable and eflicient in use and embodying certainadjustments for purpose of convenience or efficiency.

With the foregoing general objects outlined, and other objects in view,which will be apparent as the invention is better understood, thepresent invention resides in the novel construction and combinationof'parts hereinafter set forth and claimed, it being understood thatthis device is susceptible of alterations or deviations in its detailswithin the scope of the appended claims without departing from thespirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters have beenemployed to denote corresponding parts, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the neck yoke. Fig. 2 is a bottom viewthereof. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on the lines 3-3 and ltof Fig. 1, respectively. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a sleeve employed in carryingout the present invention. Fig. 7 is a perspective of a modified form ofa tongue-ring.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the neck yoke has beendesignated by the numeral 8, the same being cylindrical, or circular incross-section, and being preferably constructed of wood or similarmaterial, turned to a suitable diameter and of suitable length. Thecentral portion of the yoke 8 is provided with an enlargement orthickened portion 9 and the end portions of the yoke are reduced asdesignated by the numeral 10.

On the thickened portion 9 is mounted a metallic sleeve 11 which isco-extensive with the thickened portion and fits tightly thereon, and apair of metallic collars 12 fit on the yoke 8 and abut against theshoulders formed by the thickened portion. The collars 12 are providedon one side with the complementing radially projecting arms 18 whichhave the eyes 14 at their terminals, and a tongue-ring 15 is mountedbetween the arms 13 and has trunnions 16 projecting from its oppositesides and journaled through the eyes 14:, nuts 17 being screwthreaded onthe ends of the trunnions 16 and bearing against the eyes 14. The nuts17 not only serve to draw the arms 13 against the ring 15 but also serveto" draw the collars 12 against the shoulders formed by the thickenedportion 9. The collars 12 areprovided with screw-threaded extensions 18diametrically opposite the arms 13, and a bar or link 19 connects theextensions 18, nuts 20 being engaged on the extensions 18 andbearingagainst the bar or "link 19 to press same against the sleeve 11.

On each of the reduced portions 10 is mounted a relatively long metallicsleeve 21 which has an ear 22 projecting radially therefrom nearer oneend than the other end, the said ear 22 having a longitudinal slot 23therein adjacent the sleeve for the passage of the neck strap. The usualring 24 is also engaged to the car 22. A disk or washer 25 abuts againstthe outer end of each sleeve 21 and lag screws 26 are passed through thedisks 25 and into the ends of the yoke, so that the sleeves 21 areclamped between the disks 25 and the shoulders formed by the reducedportions 10.

The tongue-ring shown in Fig. 7 desig-.

nated by the numeral 15, comprises two semi-circular wire sections 15each section having an eye 15 at one end and a trunnion 16 projectingfrom its other end and passing through the eye 15 of the other section.The trunnions 16 may be passed through the eyes 14 in the manner oftongue-ring above described. This ring may be collapsed and may bereadily taken apart when desired or necessary, as will be apparent.

The use of neck yokes is common, and the use of the present neck yokeneed not be described at length, the same being apparent. The lag screws26 permit of the detachment of the disks 25 so that the sleeves 21 maybe reversed on the reduced portions 10 wheneverdesired so as to shiftthe ears 22 inwardly or outwardly. It will thus be observed that eitheror both of the sleeves may be reversed, or one sleeve may be reversed soas to favor one horse, particularly when the horse is not welldisciplined in holding back.

The entire yoke may be constructed at a small cost and in aconvenient-manner so as to present a substantial, durable and compactdevice of the character indicated, which will be desirable for thepurposes forwhich it is designed. The various parts are also capable ofbeing readily assembled and taken apart, and a neck yoke constructed inaccordance with the present invention is susceptible of great wearwithout appre-- ciable injury thereto and may be subject to considerablestrain without breakage.

Havin thus described the invention, what is claime is 1. A cylindricalneck yoke having reduced end portions, a relatively long reversiblesleeve on each reduced portion having a slotted car arranged nearer oneend than the other end, disks abutting against the outer ends of thesleeves, and screws passing through the disks and taking into the endsof the yoke to clamp the sleeves between the disks and the shouldersformed by the reduced portions.

2. A cylindrical neck yoke having athickened central portion, a sleeveonthe thickened portion and co-extensive therewith, collars on the yokeabutting against the "site screw-threaded extensions, a ton shouldersformed by the thickened portion, each collar having a radial armprovided with a terminal eye and diametrically oppoe ring havingtrunnions journaled through the eyes, nuts engaging on the ends of thetrunnions, a bar connecting the said extensions, and nuts engaging thesaid extensions toclamp the bar against the said sleeve.

3. A cylindrical neck yoke having a thickened central portion andreduced end portions, a relatively long reversible sleeveon each reducedportion and having a slotted ear arranged nearer one end than the otherend, retaining means detachably secured to the ends of the yoke andabutting against the ends of the sleeves to clamp the sleeves inposition, a sleeve on the thickened portion, collars on the yokeabutting against the shoulders formed by the thickened portion andhaving arms, a tongue-ring connected to.

the arms, a member connecting the collars opposite the said'arms, andmeans for clamping the said member against the latter sleeve. Q Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed mysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

MOREHOUSE THEODORE BETTS. Witnesses:

WILLIAM ROONEY, IDA E. BET'I'S.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

